Cheltenham Day 1 Tips: Owen’s best bets includes 11/1 Nap

To quote Fabrizio Romano - here we go. Over the next four days, the very best National Hunt racing has to offer will be on show at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

The action gets underway on Tuesday and I've come up with seven Cheltenham Day 1 tips for all seven races from 13:20-17:20.

For Owen's Cheltenham Day 2 Tips, please follow the link...

13:20 - Kopek Des Bordes @ 10/11

Favourite backers can get off to a flyer on Tuesday courtesy of KOPEK DES BORDES in the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

I was lucky enough to meet Willie Mullins' five-year-old back in November and it was made very clear the regard in which he was held. "He's a jet" was the word.

The son of No Risk At All went some way to justifying that lofty reputation by beating stablemate Kawaboomga, who franked the form at Fairyhouse over a month ago, on hurdling debut at Leopardstown on Boxing Day despite a dreadful round of jumping - and then he exploded onto everyone's radar with a serious performance in a Grade 1 at last month's Dublin Racing Festival.

You can argue about what exactly he beat, but 'Kevin' was 13 lengths clear at the line under a motionless Paul Townend, despite the fact he raced keenly throughout and was hampered by a loose horse before jumping the second last.

As far as I'm concerned, he's the best novice hurdler around and providing the occasion doesn't get the better of him, he should be very hard to beat.

There's a fair chance he'll drift before the off as he can be a bit buzzy in the parade ring, so I couldn't put anyone off backing him at SP or waiting till after 8am for Best Odds Guaranteed.

14:00 - Majborough @ 4/7

The Arkle can go to another odds-on shot for Willie Mullins in MAJBOROUGH. Of all the short-priced favourites on Tuesday, I think he's the most solid.

Last year's Triumph Hurdle hero has hardly put a foot wrong over fences this term, bolting up in a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse before Christmas and then running out a nine-length winner of the G1 Irish Arkle at the DRF.

That's comfortably the strongest piece of form in this five-strong field - and Majborough is open to significantly more improvement than any of his rivals, being just five years old with as many career starts.

If there's a chink in his armour, it's his jumping, but I don't think it's nearly as much of an issue as is being made out. With a clear round, I can't see him beat.

14:40 - The Short Go each-way @ 11/1

My Nap for Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival is THE SHORT GO in the Ultima.

Family. Friends. Colleagues. My uninterested other half. I even think I've told our two cats about Henry de Bromhead's eight-year-old at some point this season.

Although he's shortened a fair bit over the past 24 hours, I think he remains a cracking each-way bet in this Super Extra Place Race (6 places instead of 4).

Selected race(s). Applies to Each Way, Single & Multiple bets only. Best Odds Guaranteed & Antepost bets do not apply. Min. runner rules apply. T&Cs Apply.

He went straight into my notebook after finishing runner-up to stablemate Senior Chief in a highly-competitive handicap chase over the Ultima's course and distance at the October meeting. Off a mark of 126 on just his fourth start over fences, he came from a long way back to finish only 1¼L behind the aforementioned winner, with the rest of the field over 11 lengths adrift.

Who was back in third? Broadway Boy, who's vying for favouritism ahead of the Ultima. Nigel Twiston-Davies' more-exposed runner is just five pounds better off, so why is he over four points shorter? Why is he shorter at all? Answers on a postcard, please...

After that visit to HQ, the selection went to Navan for the Troytown and was sent off second favourite. He unfortunately fell at the 12th fence and it was too early to guess where he might have ended up, but it's notable how much confidence was behind him in the betting.

It was always the plan to have some time off afterwards with a view to return in the spring, and I think it exudes confidence that connections are willing to come here without a prep run.

I'd say they were very pleased with his mark of 132, also. That's just six pounds higher for his narrow defeat to Senior Chief, who was put up nine pounds. Generous.

There's few better than De Bromhead at getting one ready for the big day and I'm extremely hopeful this lightly-raced son of Fame And Glory, who will love conditions, can run a mighty race.

If you're put off by the Irish record in the Ultima (there hasn't been one since 2006), my advice is this: don't be. British horses dominate the field so that 'trend' - which people discuss as if it's something the horses are aware of - isn't that surprising. Also, plenty of Irish horses have placed in recent years.

15:20 - Lossiemouth @ 4/6

Willie Mullins. Odds-on. You know the drill.

I don't enjoy tipping these favourites, but it's easy to fall guilty of trying to be too clever - like when I opposed LOSSIEMOUTH in last year's Mares' Hurdle. I'm not doing that again.

The six-year-old daughter of Great Pretender is rated vastly superior to her 10 rivals and a replication of her efforts in front of Teahupoo and behind Constitution Hill from earlier in the season should be more than enough to see her win this race for the second year running.

16:00 - Constitution Hill @ 8/13

No disrespect to the champion State Man, but the Champion Hurdle looks a match between Brighterdaysahead and CONSTITUTION HILL - and I'm firmly in the latter's camp.

Gordon Elliott's mare was excellent at Leopardstown over Christmas, but the race clearly fell apart. The aforementioned State Man couldn't even beat stablemate Winter Fog, who's rated 19lbs inferior, and the front two were given far too much rope out in front.

I think it's been forgotten that just a month before, she was all out to beat an unfit State Man by less than a length. Did she improve 30L in that time? I seriously doubt it.

Until he proves otherwise, there's going to be plenty of Constitution Hill doubters after his well-documented issues, but I see no evidence that he isn't back to at least something like his best - and his best is streets ahead of these, including Brighterdaysahead.

Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old was very good in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, beating the race-fit Lossiemouth by two-and-a-half lengths after a problematic 366-day layoff, and he didn't need to get out of second gear to win the International Hurdle here at HQ in the new year.

Too much was made of his racecourse gallop at Kempton the other week - you can't read much into these things - but I will say I thought he looked extremely well.

The Elliott/Gigginstown runners are going to go a fair clip here and I think that only sets things up Constitution Hill, who can regain his crown.

10% Winnings Boost - get a 10% CASH boost if your horses wins this race.

16:40 - Beyond Your Dreams @ 6/1

The Fred Winter is one of the toughest races of the week, but I've been sweet on Joseph O'Brien's BEYOND YOUR DREAMS since the weights were allocated.

The four-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock was awarded a mark of just 123, which I think is rather generous.

It's nine pounds less than Total Look (132) who was only half a length - and coming back at the line - in front of the selection at Navan last November and three less than Slurricane (126) who finished behind her off level weights at Fairyhouse before Christmas. She was worth a good bit more than the official margin that day, too.

Beyond Your Dreams has been kept fresh for this in the meantime and will sport first-time cheekpieces, which is never a negative in this contest.

It's a slight concern that Mark Walsh has opted to ride Puturhandstogether, but Kevin Blake - race planner for O'Brien - was positive about the selection at a preview night last week and JJ Slevin is an excellent jockey, so it's far from off-putting.

17:20 - Resplendent Grey each-way @ 10/1

The finale on Day 1 - the National Hunt Chase - can go to RESPLENDENT GREY.

Olly Murphy's seven-year-old was a fast-finishing second to the 147-rated Hyland - second in Grade 1 company next time out - over an extended three miles here on the Old course back in November, before occupying the same position behind Ben Pauling's Handstands, rated 154 after winning Grade 2 and Grade 1 events on his next two starts, in the Esher Novices' Chase at Sandown in December.

Selection must finish 2nd in selected race(s). Win singles & win part of E/W bets only. Cash within 24 hours, max £10. Min runner rules apply. T&Cs Apply.

That's some of the best form on offer in this field of 18 and his mark of 142, which was dropped a pound for a spin over an inadequate trip earlier this year, is very fair as far as I'm concerned.

I'm hopeful he'll enjoy this extreme test of stamina on favoured ground and he has the best jockey this country has to offer in Sean Bowen on his back. Plenty to like, then.

I suggest making the most of Betfred's Extra Place terms and going each-way on this one.

Bet on Cheltenham's Day 1 Races at betfred.com

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights